Lee asks: I got this at a Secret Santa exchange, but have no idea what it is!

You were gifted, Lee, with a “rolling dough docker,” a very common baking tool that’s like a rolling pin…but, in this case, with spikes. The process of “docking” makes dozens of little holes in the dough you’re working with, which allows steam to escape while baking.

The rolling dough docker is used on flatbreads, pizza dough, pie crusts (when blind baking) and pastry dough to keep the dough from bubbling up unevenly. That way your dough is flaky, crisp and flat, which is important if you’re topping or filling the baked dough with something.

Your rolling docker, also called a pastry pricker, is made of stainless steel and plastic, so it’s probably dishwasher safe.

A rolling dough docker is a kitchen gadget that’s great to have if you bake a lot… but a fork usually can get the job done just as well!